TOO FAT TO FLY SOUTH

An Original Screenplay

for an Animated Feature

by

Allan Amenta

Allan Amenta

403 E. Vickie Ave.

Santa Maria, CA 93454

(805) 922-7010

aa34ferry@verizon.net

REGISTERED WGAw No. 791929

Copyright PAu 2-547-935

TOO FAT TO FLY SOUTH

FADE IN

EXT. WOODS - DAY

A gray, gusty, blustery late November day in New England.

The wind whistles and howls through the trees, tearing

and stripping leaves from their branches. Fallen leaves

skitter along the ground, swirling around tree trunks.

In a maple tree, a group of robins huddle against

the wind and soberly observe the falling leaves

and study the lowering sky. Over these autumnal

images, the Narrator speaks.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

When the autumn days grew

shorter and the nights longer

and darker, and the dying leaves

of November fluttered to their

graves, the robins up north

knew that the snows, and the

woes, of winter lurked just

around the corner. Already,

there was a nip in the air,

a foretaste of frosty things

to come that sent chills up

and down the spine of every

robin from Bangor to Boston.

One of the robins takes flight. Then, slowly, gradually,

others follow.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

The time had come to leave

the northern cities, towns,

and villages for warmer climates.

More birds begin flapping into the sky trailing the others.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

And so, just as their parents

had done, and their grandparents,

and their ancestors of long ago,

the robins began leaving their

chilly northern nests to gather

in flocks for the long flight

to warmer and cozier homes

in the sunny South.

2

ON FAT YOUNG ROBIN BEHIND BUSH

From behind a bush a young robin peeks up at the sky

forlornly. Though half concealed, he cannot hide his

most prominent feature, an exceedingly large belly.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

All flying South, except

for one lone, shivering

young robin, the one they

called B. B. Robin. And for

good reason.

ON TWO ROBINS IN TREE ABOVE

The male robin watches the flight of others, then signals

to his mate to leave, but she shakes her head and points

toward the ground.

ON B. B. ROBIN BELOW

He wobbles out of the bush, a butterball of a bird.

His MOTHER swoops down from the tree and hovers over

him, flapping her wings and urging him to do the same.

MOTHER ROBIN

Come, Son, it’s time to

leave and join the others.

It’s time to fly South.

B. B. Robin can hardly budge. Soon, his FATHER arrives

and begins tugging him, but to no avail. B. B. flops

over helplessly, then pops back up, bobbing back and

forth like a round-bottomed punching bag.

Mother and Father try to lift B. B. off the ground

but finally give up. Almost out of breath, they

glance at the sky.

EXT. THE VAST AUTUMN SKY - DAY

A flock of robins is receding into the distance.

EXT. BELOW THE TREE - DAY

Again, B. B.‘s parents try to lift him. No luck. They stare

at their hapless son, then exchange looks of frustration.

3

FATHER ROBIN

It’s hopeless. Let’s go.

MOTHER ROBIN

And leave him behind?

It’s going to be a hard

winter. The poor thing

will freeze to death.

FATHER ROBIN

Serves him right, stuffing

his beak all day long, day

in and day out. Just look

at him. All belly and blubber.

He’s an embarrassment!

Mother Robin embraces her son.

MOTHER ROBIN

You don’t really mean that.

I’d better stay here with him.

FATHER ROBIN

Are you crazy? That young

fellow has a lot to learn.

Food’s scarce here in winter.

Maybe a few months foraging

for meals will teach him a

lesson he won’t forget and take

a little weight off him, too!

Mother Robin hugs her son and drops a few tears.

Father Robin is insistent and pulls her away.

He then places a paternal wing on B. B.

FATHER ROBIN

You’ll find ways to survive,

Son. You’ll have to. Maybe

the experience will be a

blessing in disguise.

He gives B. B. another paternal pat, nods to his mate,

and takes flight. She regards her son tearfully.

MOTHER ROBIN

Goodbye, Dear. Be careful.

Try to keep warm And stay

away from cats. See you

in the Spring.

4

Reluctantly, she takes off to join her mate, and B. B.

glumly follows her flight.

EXT. MID-AIR - DAY

In flight, Mother Robin glances back at B. B.,

her eyes still filled with tears.

EXT. ON THE GROUND - DAY

B. B. Robin wobbles a few feet and again looks up

to watch his parents sail into the sky. Tears cloud

his eyes. He squats against a tree and sighs, a sad

and lonely bird indeed.

He suddenly catches sight of something and perks up.

A short distance away is a half-eaten apple. He waddles

toward the food. Soon, his beak is happily pecking away

and gobbling it down.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

No one ever accused B. B. Robin

of eating like a bird. Like a

horse, maybe. But not a bird.

And that was his main problem.

He had the busiest beak and the

biggest appetite around.

B. B. spots more food and with heavy breathing and heaving

stomach, struggles over to it and digs in.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

To prove it, he possessed

Birdland’s biggest belly.

No robin anywhere had a

bigger paunch. None had ever

gobbled and glutted, gorged

and guzzled himself into a

bigger size. Nor into bigger

trouble.

B. B. starts waddling through backyards seeking more food,

his big stomach nearly dragging against the ground.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

B. B. Robin was just too fat

to fly South --

5

NARRATOR (V. O.)

-- Or north, east, west, or

anywhere else. Grounded by

gluttony, he was left behind

to fend and forage for himself,

to survive on whatever scraps

he could get his busy beak into.

EXT. SERIES OF SHOTS, B. B. STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE

1. Mid December, and the stranded B. B. forages

for food among the trash cans.

2. Snow begins to fall. A shivering B. B. struggles

against the cold in a backyard,

3. The weather grows progressively worse, modulating

from sprinkling snow to raging blizzard. Frightened

and cold, B. B. wobbles around the yard seeking shelter.

4. Shivering and shaking, B. B. finds partial shelter

beneath a snow-covered picnic table. With a quivering

beak and forlorn expression, he looks out at the snow

swirling relentlessly around him.

EXT. A SNOW-COVERED PICNIC TABLE - NIGHT

Still shivering, B. B. is asleep under the picnic table,

dreaming.

BEGIN DREAM SEQUENCE

EXT. A BACKYARD IN FLORIDA - DAY

B. B.’s parents and friends are flapping and chirping

in a sunny backyard luxuriant with flowers and plants.

Some of B. B.’s friends are pulling up worms, and others

are filling their beaks at a feeder hanging from a tree.

EXT. A BACK PORCH - DAY

In the sweltering heat, an elderly woman is fanning

herself. She rises and begins tossing bread crumbs

toward the birds, who quickly respond to her generosity.

END DREAM SEQUENCE

6

EXT. A SNOW-COVERED PICNIC TABLE - NIGHT

Under the picnic table, B. B. tosses and turns.

He is suddenly awakened by the sound of CHURCH

BELLS ringing out a CHRISTMAS CAROL.

EXT. STREET SCENE - NIGHT

As snow continues to fall, the street is crowded

with Christmas shoppers. Carolers are serenading

everyone by a huge tree twinkling with colorful

holiday lights.

EXT. A SNOW-COVERED YARD - NIGHT

Church bells ring out another carol, and B. B. slowly

emerges from under the picnic table and wobbles into

the yard. Freezing and now disoriented after his

pleasant dream, he wobbles unsteadily a few feet,

staggers, then falls backwards into the snow.

EXT. BLIZZARD SCENE - NIGHT

Throughout the long night, snow rages unremittingly,

blanketing rooftops and the surrounding landscape.

EXT. A SNOW-COVERED PICNIC TABLE - DAY

It is the next morning. A few feet from the table,

B. B. lies motionless on his back, his big russet

belly nearly blanketed by snow. He is unable to move,

or even warble for help. Alone, frightened, half-frozen,

and about half-dead, he begins hallucinating

EXT. A BACKYARD IN FLORIDA - DAY

B. B. imagines his parents and friends are beckoning

to him. A few young robins are splashing merrily in

a birdbath. They shout to B. B. in unison.

YOUNG ROBINS

Come on in, B.B.!

The water’s fine!

7

EXT. A SNOW-COVERED YARD - DAY

His voice barely a whisper, B. B. Robin calls for help

as the snow keeps falling. We learn he speaks in rhyme.

B. B. ROBIN

Somebody help me, I’m scared

and alone, frozen stiff in

every bone.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

And so, with visions of family

and friends basking in the sunny

South, the stranded, snowbound

bird prays for a miracle to

spare him from refrigeration,

and almost certain extinction,

during one of New England’s most

ferocious and unforgiving winters.

B. B. ROBIN

Somebody help me, help me, please!

Get me out of this big deep freeze!

INT. DAVID’S BEDROOM OVER GARAGE - DAY

Kneeling by his bed, twelve-year-old David is also praying.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

Someone else is praying, too,

twelve-year-old David, who

has troubles of his own.

DAVID

Bless my Dad in Heaven, Lord.

And if you can fix my bad

leg, too, it’ll be the best

Christmas gift I ever got.

He hobbles to a mirror on a closet door. He stares at his

right leg, rubs it, sighs, then limps to a window adorned

with a Christmas wreath. He peers through the snow-flecked

glass and watches the snow piling up in the backyard.

EXT. A SNOW-COVERED YARD - DAY

B. B. Robin lies motionless in the snow.

8

INT. DAVID’S BEDROOM WINDOW- DAY

David sees something in the yard. He rubs the frosted

glass for a clearer view. His eyes widen.

DAVID

It’s a big, brown blob

in the snow. I wonder

what it is.

He hobbles away from the window and toward the bedroom door.

EXT. A SNOW-COVERED YARD - DAY

David limps toward the stricken robin for a closer

view. He bends over and brushes snow off the nearly

buried bird. Soon, he is amazed to discover the fattest,

plumpest, and beefiest robin he has ever seen.

B. B. can’t budge and looks frozen stiff. David scoops

him out of the snow, then hobbles across the yard toward

the garage with the beefy bird in his arms.

INT. GARAGE - DAY

David enters, grabs a towel off a hook, wraps it

around B. B., and gazes at the bird in wonderment.

DAVID

You’re the fattest robin

I’ve ever seen. And real

heavy, too, a bowling ball

with wings! You look half dead,

too. And nearly frozen.

B. B. shivers and his beak quivers.

DAVID

You’re going to need some

thawing out.

He cradles B. B. in his arms, hobbles over to an old

crate, sets the bird down inside, and studies him closely.

DAVID

You sure are one plump bird.

Better watch out.

9

DAVID (cont’d)

Someone may want to roast

you for Christmas dinner.

Or mistake you for a basketball

and start tossing you through

a hoop.

B. B. is not amused.

DAVID

Shouldn’t you be down South

with all the other birds?

You’re not hurt, are you?

He examines B. B.’s wings.

DAVID

No busted wings. No broken

bones. Folks all gone, too,

I’ll bet. Gone for the winter.

All alone, huh? You’ll freeze

to death if you stay up here.

Mom said this winter’s going

to be a doozy, maybe one of

the worst in years.

David places his hand on B. B.’s chest.

DAVID

Feels warmer. I think

you’re thawing out some.

But what’ll I do with you?

I already have my dog, Max,

and Mom won’t stand for

another pet around the house.

(suddenly turning)

Speak of the Devil!

Max, David’s lovable lummox of a St. Bernard lumbers

in and snuggles up to David. As David pets him, Max

casts a wary eye on the robin. David suddenly becomes

melancholy as he reflects on his last words.

DAVID

Dad used to say that -- speak

of the Devil. It was one of

his favorite sayings. I miss

him so much. Why did he have

to die?

10

David tries to hold back tears. Max snuggles even

closer, then barks at B. B. Robin.

DAVID

Stop it, Max! Can’t you

see the poor thing is

scared to death?

Trying to be friendly, Max thrusts his big head

into the crate and begins licking B. B.

The gesture frightens B. B., and David pulls Max away.

While Max sulks, David lifts B. B. from the crate,

sets him on a workbench, then speaks to Max.

DAVID

Look at him, Max. Isn’t he

the fattest robin you’ve

ever seen. How can a small

bird get so plump?

David and Max are suddenly startled by an unexpected voice.

B. B. ROBIN

Thanks for pulling me out

of the snow. I wasn’t

designed to be an Eskimo.

Boy and dog exchange looks of surprise. Max barks.

David is mesmerized.

DAVID

He talks, Max!

(to the robin)

You’re not a parrot

disguised as a robin,

are you?

As Max roars with laughter, B. B. stiffens with

indignation and points to his beak.

B. B. ROBIN

You think this looks like

a parrot’s big beak, just

because I’m able to speak?

DAVID

You’re pretty touchy as well

as fat, aren’t you?

11

B. B. ROBIN

Since you’ve called attention

to my weight, let me explain

the cause of my corpulent state.

But please let me introduce

myself first, then I’ll explain

why my life is so cursed.

B. B. tries to remain composed and dignified.

B. B. ROBIN

I’m Steven James Robin,

they call me B. B. for short.

Two painful initials wise-guy

birds use for sport.

B. B. stands for Butterball,

Big Belly, or Beefy Bird.

Names so cruel and quite absurd.

Fascinated, David moves closer to B. B.

DAVID

Which one should I call you?

B. B. ROBIN

Butterball, Big Belly, Beefy Bird,

they all make me sick. So choose

any one you like, take your pick.

DAVID

Okay, I’ll stick with B. B.

Now, tell me why you’re so

-- ah, pudgy.

B. B. ROBIN

It’s no mystery why I missed

the annual migration. I’ve

never learned to say no

to temptation.

I pick and I peck, I nibble

and munch, and when other birds

are flying, I’m out to lunch.

I glut and I gorge, I gulp

and I gobble. Now I can’t walk,

I can only wobble.

12

B. B. ROBIN (cont’d)

I gobble anything scrumptious,

from meatball to mutton. That’s

why I’m known as Birdland’s

biggest glutton.

My eating habits are so

indiscreet, my stomach

completely hides my feet.

I eat much too much, I keep

stuffing my mouth, until my

stomach’s so big I can’t fly South --

Or North, or West, or even

East. I’m such a pig when

it’s time to feast.

DAVID

By the looks of you, I’d say

you’ve feasted on half of

the supermarket.

B. B. ROBIN

Yes, ever since I was a little

tyke, I’ve never met a food

I didn’t like.

To all food, I say Hi! Hello!

and Howdy! I’m practically

engaged to Apple Pan Dowdy.

I adore corned beef, ham, and

pepperoni. I love all cold cuts,

and that’s no baloney!

Another reason for my ample size,

is my passionate love affair

with French fries.

My stomach is a favorite habitat,

for oodles and oodles and oodles

of fat.

DAVID

I guess you’re not too fussy about

what goes into your stomach. I’ll

bet you eat anything and everything.

13

B. B. ROBIN

Yes, I really have quite

an aptitude, for dining on

many different kinds of food.

B. B. puffs out his chest and assumes a boastful stance.

B. B. ROBIN

In many circles of feathered

society, I’m famous for my

gastronomical variety

DAVID

You hear that, Max? He has

a big vocabulary as well

as a gigantic tummy.

B. B. ROBIN

(haughtily)

Parrots are not the only birds

who happen to know some very

big words.

DAVID

If you’re not too fussy about

what you eat, it doesn’t matter

how it’s cooked, either.

B. B. ROBIN

How my food is prepared,

I really don’t care. I’ll

eat it medium, well-done,

or juicy rare.

You can slice it, dice

it into Mullian Stew, or

reheat yesterday’s hash,

I love leftovers, too.

Toast it, or poach it,

bake it, or beat it,

however you cook it,

believe me, I’ll eat it.

It can be any old size,

thick, thin, or teeny,

like big baked lasagna

or skinny fettuccine.

14

DAVID

With all that flying around

and traveling you’ve done,

I guess you’ve filled your

stomach in lots of places.

B. B. ROBIN

I’ve dined elegantly from Maine

to Indiana, and have never gone

hungry in Boston or Savannah,

Yes, many a gourmet meal

I’ve had in my time, dinners

sumptuous and desserts sublime.

B. B. gets dreamy-eyed with nostalgia.

In New York, I recommend the

the bagels, lox, sour cream,

and blintzes -- but Oy! How they

can put on the inches.

My stomach I could never, ever

flatten, around the savory

delicatessens of Manhattan.

In Philadelpia, I stuff myself

with humongous hoagies, and

in Scranton I can’t resist

those delectable pirogis.

Now there’s a lady in Atlanta,

and I tell you no lie, She bakes

the world’s most luscious potato

pie.

B. B. suddenly bursts into rousing song, singing words

to the tune of “DIXIE.”

Oh, I love to dine in Dixie,

hurray! hurray! But it sure

has taken my figure away, away!

Yes, I’m nuts about food from

anywhere -- China, Japan, or

Morocco, and go absolutely

loco over any Mexican taco

Now B. B. becomes rhapsodic with Italian gusto.

15

B. B. ROBIN (cont’d)

But, eh? Nothing in all

the world beatsa, the taste,

the aroma of Italiano pizza!

DAVID

You sure like to boast about

those great meals almost as much

as eating them, my chubby friend.

B. B. Robin suddenly sinks into instant depression.

David and Max exchange glances. In tears, B. B.

turns away. David tries to console him.

DAVID

You don’t seem to be too

happy. I thought fat and

jolly go together.

B. B. ROBIN

Being fat and jolly may win

you applause if your name

happens to be Santa Claus.

DAVID

What’s the matter, then?

B. B. ROBIN

Calling me chubby, that’s

what’s the matter, everyone

telling me I’m getting fatter

and fatter.

DAVID

Well, Just look at you.

With all that blubber.

Would you want your picture

in one of those bird books?

B. B. is the picture of utter dejection.

B. B. ROBIN

My weight is so astronomical,

the sad result is pretty comical.

DAVID

I’ve got to admit, your

looks really tickled my

funny bone at first.

16

B. B. ROBIN

To other birds, I’m just comic

relief, the answer to the question,

where’s the beef?

They call me names like Friar

Tuck, and say I waddle like a duck.

They like to poke fun,

they love to goad, and tell

me I’m fat enough to have

my own ZIP code.

DAVID

Even so, I’ll bet your family

and friends miss you and wish

you were down South with them.

B. B. ROBIN

No one will miss me, no one

will care. I’ll just be another

fatso who vanished into thin air.

Stuffing oneself can be most

delightful, but what it does

to the body can be most frightful.

For example, when you’re fat,

there’s always the question,

of nagging, burning indigestion.

Another problem worthy of mention,

is the likelihood of hypertension.

Finally, to complete this medical

confession, obesity often leads

to mental depression.

So I must admit, when all

is said and done, being

overweight is not much fun.

B. B. goes dreamy again and drifts into the past.

EXT. TREE BRANCHES - DAY - PAST

A summer day bursting with color. B. B. is perched on a branch

warbling with unmitigated joy as his parents beam with pride.

17

B. B. ROBIN (V. O.)

Once I was a songbird who

could warble and gush. After all,

my family name is Singing Thrush.

Ornithologists call us Turdus

Migratorius, and our singing

can be positively glorious.

Oh, how I could warble and how

I could sing. It rivaled Sinatra

and that crooner named Bing.

Yes, I could out-sing the nightingale

and even the canary -- until I

discovered the Deli and dairy.

EXT. GARAGE - DAY - PRESENT

B. B. ROBIN

I recall those happy days

when I could twitter and chirp,

but now all I can do is belch

and burp.

DAVID

You’re really a mess. You can’t

sing anymore, and you can’t fly,

that’s for sure. Heck, you can

hardly walk! What are we going

to do with you?

B. B. ROBIN

(groaning)

I’m grounded by gluttony,

never to fly again, forever

glued to the earth like

a barnyard hen.

A roly-poly ball of butter,

who cannot fly, or even flutter.

I’ve plummeted from the sky,

from heavenly heights. There’ll

be no more thrilling take-offs,

no more fancy flights.

David suddenly jumps up with excitement. So does Max.

18

DAVID

I’ve got it Max! We’ll put

B. B. on a diet, just like

Mom goes on every so often.

(rubbing B. B.’s stomach)

We’ll get him back to his

flying weight, won’t we Max?

B. B. displays his outlandish belly.

B. B. ROBIN

It would be much easier

to lasso the moon, than

trying to deflate this

preposterous balloon.

What can you do with someone

so plump, who’s already the

world’s heavyweight chump?

DAVID

Just leave everything to me

because I’m going to turn you

into the world’s lighweight champ

with a diet and lots of exercise.

He hobbles to a large calendar on a wall and points to December.

DAVID

I’m on Christmas vacation from

school. That should be enough

time to slim you down a bit.

When your folks return in

the Spring, I’ll bet they won’t

recognize you. But you’ve got

to follow orders. Stick to the

diet and exercises. No cheating,

no eating between meals, because

Max and I are going to keep an

eye on you, won’t we Max?

B. B. moans as Max barks with delight.

David removes a tape measure from the workbench, wraps it

around B. B.’s huge girth, and shakes his head in amazement.

He grabs a large rubber ball off a shelf, measures its

diameter with the tape, and again measure’s B. B.’s waist

for comparison.

19

He places B. B. on a scale. Max roars with laughter

when he reads the number.

DAVID

Hmmm. We’ve got a big job

ahead, but when we get

through with you, my

friend, you’ll be the

thinnest, trimmest, slimmest

bird in the sky.

B. B. ROBIN

My fat comes in such large

amounts, I don’t think you

can shave off even one ounce.

David and Max eye each other knowingly. Then, eyes

glowing with expected triumph, they fix on B. B. As

he backs away, boy and dog move toward him resolutely,

both relishing the challenge of making him over.

MONTAGE OF EXERCISES A LA ROCKY

1. On makeshift treadmill, B. B. is huffing and puffing.

2. B. B. skipping rope in a big sweat.

3. As David keeps count, B. B. does push-ups, his eyes

glassy from the effort.

4. B. B. jogs as David limps along and Max follows.

5. David weighs B. B., shakes his head disapprovingly,

then measures his waist, again shaking his head.

B. B.’s face expresses disappointment.

END EXERCISE MONTAGE.

INT. GARAGE - DAY

Atop the old crate, an unhappy B. B. pecks at a few

crumbs on a plate next to a small bowl of water.

He glances sadly at David as Max looks on approvingly.

B. B. ROBIN

This food is no cause for

celebration. It’s a one-way

ticket to sure starvation.

20

B. B. ROBIN

With this kind of stuff

you keep feeding me, a bony

skeleton I soon shall be.

Finally, from sheer exhaustion, B. B. falls asleep

next to his plate. David picks him up gently, strokes

him, and places him inside the crate. Max whimpers

and snuggles up to David with a hint of canine

jealousy in his eye.

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT

B. B. is moaning fitfully in the grip of a bad dream.

BEGIN DREAM SEQUENCE

Grunting and groaning, B. B. lifts monstrous weights

that would challenge the strength and endurance of

Arnold Schwarzenegger.

B. B. is on rowing machine struggling with king-sized

oars.

B. B. is trying to leap over extra-high hurdles.

B. B. is running the 100-yard dash, and his lungs seem

about to burst from the effort.

In the hammer-throw event. B. B. swings a metal ball

the size of a basketball.

END DREAM SEQUENCE

INT. GARAGE - DAY - ON CRATE

B. B. awakens from his terrifying dream in a big

sweat and shaking with fear. A grinning Max is

hovering over him. It is obvious he is enjoying

the bird’s predicament.

INT. DAVID’S BEDROOM WINDOW - DAY

David peers through the window upon a bright, cold

morning. He dresses hurriedly and limps out of

the room.

21

INT. STAIRWAY - DAY

David hobbles down the stairs as fast as he can.

INT. KITCHEN -DAY

David rushes into the kitchen past his mother at

the stove preparing breakfast.

MOTHER

I told you a thousand times

not to rush downstairs. It’s

bad for that leg of yours.

Now sit down and eat your

breakfast. Pancakes. Your

favorite. They’re nice and hot.

DAVID

Not now, Mom. No time.

I’ve got to do something.

He grabs his coat in the hallway.

MOTHER

Why the big hurry?

DAVID

It’s that robin I’ve been

telling you about, Mom. He’s

in bad shape. He can’t fly

anymore. He’s too darn fat.

I’m putting him on a diet

MOTHER

(joking)

Have him try my diet. Look what

it did for me -- ta-da!

She whirls around to display her figure.

MOTHER (cont’d)

Now sit down and eat. You can

take care of that bird after

you -- hey, David!

Too late. David has vanished. His mother sighs, shakes

her head, turns off The burner, sits down at the table,

and starts picking at her pancakes.

22

Moments later, PEGGY, a neighbor, enters.

PEGGY

That coffee smells good.

MOTHER

Help yourself, Peggy.

PEGGY

Just saw David whiz by.

Not bad for a kid with

a lame leg.

MOTHER

The doctor still can’t find

a thing wrong. Physically,

that is. It’s so frustrating.

And it doesn’t help when some

of the kids poke fun about

his leg.

PEGGY

It’s probably psychosomatic.

The boy was fine before

Bob passed away. What a shock.

And he and David were so close.

The memories are too much for David’s mother. She begins

sobbing. Peggy tries to console her.

INT. GARAGE - DAY

David approaches a sleeping B. B. Max is right behind.

DAVID

Okay, B. B.,up and at ‘em!

Time to exercise.

B. B.’s eyes are half closed. He tries to go back to sleep,

but David’s command and Max’s barking are just too much.

Another round of ROCKY-like exercises is about to begin.

SERIES OF EXERCISE SHOTS

1. B. B. is jogging as David and Max follow.

2 B. B. is doing chin-ups on a bar.

23

3. B. B. lifts barbells as David counts.

DAVID

Twenty-three, twenty-four,

twenty-five Okay, that’s

enough for now.

B. B. is shaky and exhausted. David measures

his girth, checks the results, and weighs him

on a scale.

DAVID

Pretty good, B. B.

You’re making progress.

David pats B. B.‘s head. The robin offers a grateful

but weak smile. Max sulks over the attention the bird

is getting.

DAVID

But we still have a long

way to go.

B. B. face drops. Max scoffs.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

David’s mother is trimming a Christmas tree. She looks

around and calls out.

MOTHER

David! How about helping

me with the tree. David!

Where are you?

Silence. Finally, from somewhere in the garage.

DAVID (O. S.)

Be with you in a minute, Mom!

MOTHER

(to herself)

Well, at least he’s showing

a lot of love for the poor

bird. That’s what Christmas

is all about after all.

Bob would be proud of him.

24

David enters and begins helping trim the tree.

INT. GARAGE - DAY

B. B. Robin is jumping rope as David looks on. Max is

resting on his paws showing no sign of interest.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

As Christmas Day approaches,

there’s no letup in the robin’s

rigorous exercise program.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET -DAY

B. B. Robin jogs with David while Max trails listlessly.

More images of B. B.’s exercises follow to match the

Narrator’s commenatary.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

More jogging, more push-ups,

more iron-pumping. But, alas,

not much more food. For David

is determined to get the fat

bird into shape, no matter

how hungry he may be, or how

much he complains.

INT. GARAGE - DAY - ON OLD CRATE

David pours a small amount of birdseed into B. B.’s

plate. B. B. stares at the food glumly, sighs, and

gives David a woeful look.

B. B. ROBIN

Some other food I would have

preferred. Do you really expect

me to eat like a bird?

DAVID

Tell you what. Stick to

your diet, and I’ll give

you a nice reward. Maybe

some juicy worms. How’s

that sound?

B. B. Robin shrugs and replies haughtily.

25

B. B. ROBIN

To other birds worms are

a delicacy, but they’re not

exactly my cup of tea.

He sighs and begins pecking at the birdseed. Max whimpers

and eyes B. B. sullenly.

DAVID

(playfully)

Max! Better be good,

or I’ll put you on

a birdseed diet, too!

Max is not amused, and he lumbers away to sulk in a corner.

ON RAFTERS ABOVE

CLORINDA, a scrawny, slinky, sneaky cat from somewhere

in the neighborhood, silently observes the scene below

with keen interest.

ON MAX

As Max watches David catering to B. B. Robin, his eyes

cloud with jealousy.

ON CLORINDA

Her eyes are focused on Max. His obvious show of jealousy

is not lost on her.

EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT

It is Christmas Eve. Church bells ring out a CHRISTMAS CAROL.

INT. DAVID’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

David praying by his bed. Max is lounging nearby.

DAVID

Lord, tell Dad how much we

love and miss him. This will

be our first Christmas without

him. And see if you can help

Mom. She’s lonely, and she

worries so much about my bad leg.

26

Max shuffles over to David and snuggles next to him.

David pats him.

DAVID

And speaking of my leg, Lord,

I’d be really happy if you

could do something about it.

I don’t know what’s wrong,

but I can’t get it to move

the way it used to. I just can’t

stop limping. And, oh, yes, see

what you can do to make B. B.

fly and sing again. I’m doing

what I can to help. Thank you,

Lord. Merry Christmas and Amen.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Christmas morning, and David and his mother are

opening presents by the tree.

Max is moseying around sniffing at the packages.

David unwraps one, removes a box of milk bones,

and holds it before a delighted Max.

David’s mother hands him a small package. He opens

it and removes a tiny collar with a bell attached.

MOTHER

It’s for that bird of yours.

David hugs her, then hobbles from the room with Max

tagging along.

INT. GARAGE -DAY

David tries the collar on B. B., as green-eyed Max frowns.

DAVID

It’s your Christmas present,

B. B. From Mom.

(adjusting collar)

You know, you have lost

some weight. Not much.

But we’e getting there.

Max growls.

27

B. B. ROBIN

I’m beginning to think your

real mission, is to put me

in a state of malnutrition.

But thank your Mother,

anyway, for thinking of

me on Christmas Day.

EXERCISE MONTAGE

It is the final week of the year, and B. B. is going

through his usual paces -- jogging, push-ups, chin-ups,

skipping rope, etc.

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT

New Year’s Eve. There is MUSIC and PARTY SOUNDS coming

from upstairs. David is wearing a party hat and weighing

B. B. Robin. He smiles at the results.

DAVID

You’re looking good, B. B.

By springtime you’ll be

the slimmest robin around,

flying and singing all over

the place. Pretty soon, everyone

will be calling you ‘Skinny.’

B. B. ROBIN

But what do I do when my stomach

starts to growl. Cry for help,

or hoot like an owl?

Midnight, and from upstairs, we hear the strains of

AULD LANG SYNE. Moments later. David’s mother and a few

of her friends and relatives enter. She hugs David.

MOTHER

Happy New Year, Son.

(glancing at B. B.)

Happy New Year, little bird!

DAVID

See, B. B., Mom called you

‘little bird.’Doesn’t that

mean something?

B. B. responds with a bashful smile.

28

David’s mother hands him a a plate containing

a large slice of cake, hugs him again, and returns

upstairs with the others.

Max and B. B. salivate at the sight of the cake.

David feeds a piece to Max. B. B. looks on with

frustration. David notices and grins slyly.

DAVID

Remember my promise, B. B.,

if you followed instructions?

You don’t like worms, so some

cake will have to do.

He breaks off a small piece and puts it on B. B.’s

plate. B. B. gobbles it up, then sighs with satisfaction.

B, B. ROBIN

I thank you sincerely for

keeping your promise.

For a while I was becoming

a Doubting Thomas.

DAVID

That’s the last treat you’ll

get until you lose more weight.

But you’re on your way, B. B.

It’s a great start for the new

year, and I’m proud of you.

As usual, Max can’t tolerate the attention B. B. is

getting, and he lumbers off.

DAVID

Now remember, B. B., school

begins in a few days, and I

can only be with you after

school and on weekends. So,

while I’m gone, you’ll have

to work as hard as ever and

promise to follow the routine.

Scout’s honor. Happy New Year.

B. B. smiles weakly at the prospect ahead. David glances

at the sulking Max.

DAVID

Happy New Year to you,

too, Max!

29

ON MAX

Max shoots an angry glance at B. B. Despite David’s

greeting, he is not the happiest of dogs.

INT. GARAGE RAFTERS - NIGHT - ON CLORINDA THE CAT

In the rafters, CLORINDA, the skulking cat, is again

spying on the proceedings below, where B. B. Robin

is pecking at his birdseed and Max is sulking.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

High above in the rafters

watching, listening, spying,

is Clorinda, a sneaky, shifty,

slinky cat, a scrawny scarecrow

of a puss, a cadaverous bag of

bones who loves to harass Max

and engage him in battle.

But her dislike of the dog

is nothing compared to her

intense hatred of birds, and

especially her distaste of

obesity in anyone -- bird,

animal, or human being.

Clorinda glowers at B. B. Robin and gnashes her teeth.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

Unlike Max, who wishes the fat

interloper would just go away

and not command so much of

David’a time and attention,

Clorinda’s animosity is dark

and sinister. And when it’s

aimed at a bird who is still

on the heavy side, her hostility

can be most dangerous.

ON MAX

Still sulking, Max begins sniffing suspiciously.

He scans the garage warily, then looks up, spots

Clorinda, and growls.

DAVID (O. S.)

Be quiet, Max. What’s the matter

with you, anyway?

30

Still eyeing Clorinda, Max softens his growl into

a whimper.

ON CLORINDA

She offers Max an ingratiating grin.

ON MAX

He is puzzled by Clorinda’s sudden show of affability.

ON B. B. ROBIN AND DAVID - CLORINDA’S POV

B. B. nibbles at his plate of birdseed. He turns to David.

B. B. ROBIN

I’ve had about enough of

this starvation diet,

and I suggest that you

yourself try it.

David nudges the plate even closer to B. B.’s beak.

DAVID

It’ll work, you’ll see.

And you’ll thank me for it.

Or would you rather have

all the birds call you nasty

names? Come on, clean your plate.

B. B. ROBIN

(groaning)

Oh, what I wouldn’t give

for some real food, something

tasty to elevate my mood.

ON CLORINDA

She grins devilishly, then hisses at Max to get his

attention. She signals for him to follow and slinks

along a rafter to a far corner of the garage.

ON MAX

Still puzzled by Clorinda’s behavior, Max eyes her movement

along the rafter. Slowly, silently, he moves along the garage

floor in her direction. Preoccupied with B. B. Robin, David

is oblivious to Max’s disappearing act.

31

INT. GARAGE -- NIGHT -- ON B. B. IN OLD CRATE

It is much later, and B. B. is sleeping with a big

smile on his face. He is enjoying the most pleasant

dream he has had in a long time.

BEGIN DREAM SEQUENCE

DINING ROOM, PLUSH RESTAURANT

In evening dress, B. B. is dining at the best table in

a ritzy restaurant. Spread before him is a sumptuous

banquet, a feast fit for the most gluttonous of kings.

As he indulges with Epicurean ostentation, he is

surrounded by fawning waiters and stewards ministering

to his every wish and whim.

Well-heeled diners at nearby tables nod obsequiously

and offer toasts to B. B.

After gorging himself on every dish in sight, B. B.

belches and burps. The other diners enthusiastically

applaud, and with a lordly bow, he acknowledges their

approval of his gastronomical performance.

With a final belch, B. B. signals to the maitre d’ that

he has finished. But he has difficulty getting his bulky

body out of his chair. The maitre d’ and his minions

struggle to free him as other diners applaud their efforts.

Despite his predicament, B. B., surfeited with food, smiles

indulgently with an air of aristocratic nobless oblige.

END DREAM SEQUENCE

INT. GARAGE -- NIGHT - ON SLEEPING B. B.

His sleeping face is the epitome of bliss.

EXT. GARAGE - NIGHT

Clorinda has coaxed Max outside the garage. In the

shadows they peer through a window at the snoozing,

smiling robin. The wily, street-wise cat is doing

her palsy-walsy best to ingratiate herself with Max.

She thrusts a large milk bone under his nose. Max

sniffs it, is tempted, but unsure about accepting it.

32

CLORINDA

Go ahead, take it, my Friend.

There’s more where that came

from. I got connections.

(nudging the milk bone

into Max’s mouth)

Sure, we’ve had our little

differences in the past,

but we’ll let bygones be

bygones. After all, Pal,

we now have a common cause.

She puts a bony arm on Max’s shoulder and speaks

intimately, as to a bosom friend.

CLORINDA

You gonna let that roly-poly

schmuck of a bird come between

you and your master? You gonna

stand by and let that feathered

Fatso break up a long and beautiful

friendship?

At the window, Max shoots the blissful B. B. a malevolent

look. Clorinda has one eye on the bird and the other on Max.

CLORINDA

Look at him! A fat slob

of a nobody snoozing away

like he owned the place.

Clorinda suddenly explodes into a wild, pathological outburst.

CLORINDA

I hate fat! I abhor it! I despise

it, detest it in human, beast,

and bird! Fat is ugly! Odious!

Despicable! Horrid! Repulsive!

Distasteful! Repugnant! Hideous!

Vile! Foul! Nauseating!

She straightens up, and like a fashion model, proudly

runs her bony fingers down her emaciated body as

though her figure were the most beautiful on earth

CLORINDA

Thin is beautiful! Slim is

sublime! Slender is divine!

Skinny is gorgeous! Lean is mean!

33

After this verbal orgy, she finally composes herself

and resumes with Max.

CLORINDA

Looks like you’ve had to take

a back seat since Big Beefo

arrived on the family doorstep.

And you so loyal and devoted

all these years. Alienation of

affection! That’s what it is, my

Friend. Alienation of affection!

The gullible, trusting Max has always been receptive to

any display of friendship. Combined with Clorinda’s

animosity toward B. B. it is enough to embolden him

and regard the cat in a new light as an unexpected ally.

He peers through the window again at B. B., this time

with an air of bravado. He barks at the sleeping bird.

It is a cue for Clorinda to start pouring it on.

CLORINDA

And it’s not helping your

master’s bum leg, either.

All that running around

catering to a blimpy freeloader

from Palookaville. You can see

the poor boy is all worn out.

She eyes Max for his reaction.

CLORINDA

If you ask me, I think his

limp is even worse since

Butterball showed up.

Max peers through the window again to observe David.

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT - ON DAVID - MAX’S POV

David is hobbling around cleaning and drying B. B.’s plate,

filling the bird’s water bowl, and performing other chores.

EXT. OUTSIDE GARAGE - NIGHT - ON MAX AND CLORINDA

Tears dribble down Max’s face. In phony commiseration,

Clorinda manufactures a few of her own.

34

CLORINDA

Looks like that diet plan

is working and Blubber Bird

is slimming down. Could be

bad news for you, Pal. Who

knows? Your master may just

want to adopt him as a pet.

And where would that leave

you, eh? Eh?

(digging a bony elbow

into Max’s side)

Out in the cold, that’s where!

Ever think of that, eh? Eh?

Max’s eyes are fiery with jealous anger.

CLORINDA

You know what they say. Two’s

company, three’s a crowd. Isn’t

it time you did something about

that blubbery interloper?

An excited Max nods in approval. He tries to lick

the cat’s face, but she backs off with a controlled

show of distaste. She clears her throat and smiles

maliciously.

CLORINDA

But there’s a way to, ah,

er, to eliminate the problem,

to get the monkey off your

back, so to speak, and return

to that Golden Age when it was

just the two of you, Max and David.

(rhapsodizing)

Max and David. Has a nice ring

to it, don’t you think?

Max is estatic. Clorinda puts an arm around him.

CLORINDA

Take my advice, Friend,

and you’ll be on top again

where you belong. As Numero

uno. Numero uno!

Hearing this, Max is on Cloud Nine. Suddenly, Clorinda

jerks the submissive dog to her bosom and bends close

to his ear.

35

CLORINDA

You heard what Blimpo Bird

said. He’d give anything

for some real food. Poor

starving fellow.

(ponderning)

Hmmm. Some charitable soul

should liberate him from

his misery.

With a wicked smile, she bends even closer to Max’s ear.

CLORINDA

Food for thought, don’t you

think? Now what if --

(voice fading)

We no longer can hear her words. As Max listens,

his eyes widen, and he nods in delight.

CLOSE ON CLORINDA

She is grinning diabolically.

INT. - GARAGE - NIGHT

B. B. Robin continues to sleep blissfully.

EXT. OUTSIDE GARAGE - NIGHT

Clorinda shoves another milk bone into Max’s mouth.

Then, cat and dog waltz away, arm in arm, like bosom

buddies, two silhouettes in the moonlight. As they

recede into the distance, we hear the voice of Clorinda.

CLORINDA (O. S.)

You know, Max, I think

this could be the beginning

of a beautiful friendship.

INT. GARAGE - DAY

Christmas vacation is over, and it is back to school

for David. Wearing his backpack, he is feeding B. B.

the usual meager fare.

36

MOTHER (O. S.)

David! The school bus

is here. Better hurry.

DAVID

Okay Mom.

(to B. B. Robin)

Now, I left you enough food

until I get back. Max will

keep an eye on you until then.

(turning to Max)

Right, Max? I’m leaving you

in charge. Don’t let me down.

Max nods, and eyes B. B. possessively. B. B. sighs

and rolls his eyes.

B. B. ROBIN

At the risk of seeming rather

bumptious, I request you return

with something scrumptious.

DAVID

Never mind all that. Trust me.

Eat your regular food, and I

guarantee you’ll be flying

and singing better than ever.

B. B. Robin doesn’t seem convinced.

MOTHER (O. S.)

David! The bus!

David tickles B. B.‘s tummy, pats Max, and dashes off.

EXT. STREET - DAY - ON SCHOOL BUS

As his mother watches, David hurries to join the other

children boarding the bus.

EXT. GARAGE - DAY - ON WINDOW

Max appears at the window and looks around furtively.

EXT. STREET -DAY

The bus moves away as David’s mother waves.

37

EXT. GARAGE - DAY - ON OUTSIDE WALL

Clorinda slinks and slithers along the foot of

the wall, half concealing a bag behind her back.

She looks around cautiously, pokes her head around

the corner, and spots Max inside by the garage

window. Both are now in the frame.

CLORINDA

Psst!

Max turns, his face shadowed with fear.

CLORINDA

Is the coast clear?

Max nods. Clorinda creeps up to the window and peeks in.

CLORINDA

I see Tubby has lost an inch

or two. We’ll have to do

something about that.

She nods toward the the window latch impatiently.

CLORINDA

Wellll!

Max’s eyes cloud over. Moments later, they finally

light up, and he opens the window. Clorinda looks

around again, and like a flash, zips into the opening.

INT. GARAGE - DAY - ON B. B. ROBIN

He is picking at his food with customary indifference.

CORNER OF GARAGE

Clorinda and Max lurk silently in the shadows.

ON B. B. ROBIN

B. B. Robin is oblivious to their presence.

ON CLORINDA AND MAX

Clorinda displays the bag she has brought.

38

CLORINDA

Some goodies for Sir Plumpness.

Cookies, candy, nuts, and much,

much more. He’ll go crazy. And

I’ll go mad with ecstasy!

Max’s tongue wags expectantly.

CLORINDA

Uh! Uh! The main course

is for Fatso. But these

are for you.

She waves milk bones under Max’s nose. He lunges

for them, but she snaps them back.

CLORINDA

Not until you complete

your mission. That’s the

deal. Now put these goodies

next to Potbelly’s plate.

(hands Max the bag)

Go! Go! I’ll be up in

the rafters watching.

(deliriously)

Oh, I can’t wait to see this.

As Clorinda scoots up to the rafters, Max creeps

stealthily toward the unsuspecting B. B.

Max looms closer and closer. B. B. looks up, almost

freezes with fright at the approaching giant of a

St. Bernard, and begins to back away.

Max grins sheepishly, displays Clorinda’s bag, then

dumps the goodies next to B. B.’s plate.

B. B.’s eyes nearly pop out in disbelief and ping-pong

between food and dog.

Max flashes a toothy grin and nods toward the food

as if he were doing B. B. the greatest favor in the

world.

B. B. looks around anxiously, expecting David to appear

at any moment. Satisfied, and under Max’s approving eye,

he begins digging into the banquet of goodies with gusto.

39

ON THE RAFTERS

Clorinda is relishing the sight below with equal gusto.

CLORINDA

(laughing hysterically)

Eat! Eat, you disgustingly

obese bird! Eat all you can

eat! Relish your unexpected

good fortune. There’s more

where that came from. Lots

and lots more!

ON MAX - CLORINDA’S POV

CLORINDA (O. S.)

Speaking of eating, I have

that blockhead of a mutt

eating right out of my hand.

ON CLORINDA

She hums a merry tune and dances with mad delight

along a rafter.

ON B. B. ROBIN AND MAX

Max glances up and witnesses Clorinda’s crazy dance,

then nudges more goodies toward B. B. As Max smiles

with satisfaction, B. B. gobbles his windfall food

as if there were no tomorrow.

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY - ON DAVID

While another student recites poetry in front of

the class, David is busy sketching a series of robins,

beginning with a fat bird and progressing to slimmer

ones. Under the final sketch of a trim robin, he writes

the name, B. B. ROBIN.

INT. GARAGE - DAY - ON B. B. ROBIN

He is gorging himself to a fare-thee-well.

ON CLORINDA

In the rafters, Clorinda is grinning fiendishly.

40

CLORINDA

Oh, this is indescribably

delightful, delicious, and

delectable! I’m delirious

with joy. Eat up, Jumbo

Baby! Eat to your heart’s

content. Bon appetit!

EXT. SCHOOL PLAYGROUND - DAY

A group of boys are playing basketball. As David walks

by, a boy named JACK begin to taunt him.

JACK

Hey, here comes the Gimp.

FIRST BOY

Yeah!

Staring at David’s leg, Jack tosses the ball to him,

and David catches it.

JACK

How about a game?

SECOND BOY

Let him alone, Jack.

David rifles the ball into Jack’s stomach but stumbles

and falls at the same time. Flushed with anger, Jack

lunges at David, then stops.

JACK

If you weren’t such a cripple,

I’d make you pay for that.

The sympathetic boy helps David up.

DAVID

Thanks.

(eyeing Jack)

What’s he matter with him?

SECOND BOY

Jack likes to make fun

of people. He can’t help it.

DAVID

He could if he really wanted to.

41

David brushes himself off and hobbles away.

INT. GARAGE - DAY - ON B. B. ROBIN AND MAX

B. B. Robin is nearly cross-eyed from overindulgence.

He finally gives up gorging himself, belches several

times, staggers into his crate, and slumps down. Within

seconds he is sleeping and belching intermittently.

Max quickly removes all the evidence. And just as

quickly, Clorinda appears.

CLORINDA

Well done, Pal. Mission

accomplished. For today,

that is.

(offering milk bones)

You earned these.

(glancing at B. B.)

Look at him. Did you ever

see such a glutton. Revolting,

isn’t it?

(stretching out her hand)

Okay, hand over the bag.

We’ll need it for next time.

It may take a day or two

to scrounge up more goodies.

Remember, mum’s the word.

Eat. Enjoy. See you soon.

As Max munches on his milk bones, Clorinda darts away

and vanishes through the window.

EXT. WINTER SCENE - DAY

The Narrator resumes and speaks over images of snow

falling and wind whistling through leafless trees.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

And so, through the early

winter weeks, with the jealous

and submissive Max as her dupe

and fall guy, the scrawny,

emaciated, depraved Clorinda

continues to sabotage David’s

hard work and frustrate his

dream of helping B. B. Robin

regain his flying weight.

42

SERIES OF SHOTS

The Narrator continues over images of Clorinda’s

relentless assault on B. B. , his worsening

condition, and David’s mounting frustration.

NARRATOR (V. O.)

Her wicked scheme satisfies

the two ornery sides of

her nature, the sadistic

side that enjoys giving pain

to others, and the masochistic

side that enjoys inflicting

pain on herself, by causing

and encouraging the very obesity

she finds so repugnant and so

intolerable. But even worse,

her viciousness threatens the

very life of her hated victim.

1. Max feeding B. B., who now eats with great relish.

2. David feeding B. B. , who pecks at his food

listlessly, then walks away.

3. Clorinda rewarding Max with milk bones.

4. B. B. trying to do push-ups, then quickly giving up.

5. David weighing a heavier B. B. Robin, measuring

his waist, then shaking his head in frustration.

6. David in bed tossing and turning with worry.

7. Clorinda on garage rafters laughing diabolically.

END SERIES OF SHOTS.

EXT. DARK ALLEY - NIGHT

Among the alley’s ash cans and debris, Clorinda

is playing cards with her feline cronies, who are

as scrawny, shifty-eyed, and disputable as she is.

FIRST CRONY

How’s your campaign going

against Big-Belly Bird?

43

SECOND CRONY

Yeah, we deserve a report.

We certainly pay you enough

in candy, cookies, and other

goodies.

CLORINDA

That’s protection payment.

In exchange, I protect you

against your enemies. That’s

the deal we made, remember?

She conks the Second Crony on the head.

THIRD CRONY

Come on, Clorinda, don’t

hold out. We’re dying

for some news.

CLORINDA

Well, I hate to brag, but

I got that big stupid dog,

Max, eating out of my hand,

literally and figuratively.

FIRST CRONY

You sure got brains, Clorinda.

SECOND CRONY

She’s a genius.

(whispering to Third Crony)

And such a beautiful body.

So svelte.

FIRST CRONY

Tell us more, Clorinda.

CLORINDA

Well, that gimpy kid hasn’t

a clue to what’s happening.

(laughs uproariously)

Oh, it’s too delicious.

I can hardly stand the ecstasy

of it all. And what’s more --

(almost losing control)

-- that schlemiel of a kid

thinks El Blimpo is going

to fly again. Maybe when

elephants start sprouting wings.

44

Clorinda’s cronies explode in laughter. While they

are cackling raucously, Clorinda sneaks a card

from the deck and slips it into the hand she’s

holding. Eyeing her cronies slyly, she slaps down

her cards in triumph.

CLORINDA

(grinning wickedly)

Anyone beat four aces?

CLOSE ON CLORINDA

Her devilish smile fills the frame.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

David and his mother are having breakfast.

DAVID

I can’t figure it out, Mom

I have B. B. on a strict

diet, and he keeps gaining

weight anyway.

MOTHER

Maybe he’s just naturally

heavy, Son. Ever think of

that? Or Maybe he’s finding

food somewhere.

DAVID

Oh, no, Mom. Not with good old

Max watching him like a hawk.

His mother puts an arm on his shoulder.

MOTHER

David, you have more important

things to worry about.

(glancing at his bad leg)

Like that leg of yours.

We have to do something

about it. I hate to bring

it up again, but you need

to see a specialist.

DAVID

Aw, not that again, Mom!

45

INT. GARAGE - DAY

As Max looks on, B. B. Robin gobbles up his latest

offering. Lurking in the b.g., unseen by B. B.,

Clorinda hisses for Max’s attention. Max obeys

and joins the cat.

CLORINDA

Let us consult, shall we?

You know, this daytime

stuff is for the birds --

hey, that’s a pun!

(laughs and collars Max)

We need more action,

Pal. It’s time to speed

things up. How about a

a little night duty, eh?

Max’s face expresses doubt.

CLORINDA (cont’d)

Not to worry, Friend.

(dipping into a bag)

Here‘s something special,

a reward for your hard work.

And loyalty

Clorinda dangles a sizable cut of beef before Max’s

amazed eyes and salivating tongue.

CLORINDA

It’s yours! Right now!

No waiting. A strapping

fellow like you can’t

eat milk bones forever.

You’re in the big leagues

now. Here, take it.

Max sinks his teeth into the meat and is transported.

Clorinda watches with huge satisfaction. It doesn’t

take long for Max to polish off the meat. As he licks

his chops, Clorinda bends close to his ear.

CLORINDA

As I was saying, I’m ready

for some nocturnal activity.

Now, here’s my plan --

She whispers into Max’s ear.

46

INT. DAVID’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

He’s kneeling beside his bed praying.

DAVID

And, Lord, help me find

out what’s happening to

B. B. He should be losing

weight, not gaining it.

EXT. GARAGE - NIGHT

Clorinda is creeping along the roof dragging a bag.

At the roof’s edge, she leaps to a tree branch and

slithers down the trunk to the ground.

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT

Max is waiting by the open window. Clorinda oozes through.

CLORINDA

Night shift reporting.

(handing the bag to Max)

A royal feast, this time, Pal

-- pastry, doughnuts, jelly

roll, coconut cream pie, you

name it! Oh, are we going

to have some fun tonight!

INT. DAVID’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Worried about B. B. Robin, he is having a troubled sleep.

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT

Max places a heap of goodies before B. B. Robin,

who is noticeably heavier. He doesn’t pounce on

the food as usual but looks at Max and sighs deeply.

B. B. ROBIN

Something tells me this isn’t right.

Maybe I shouldn’t take another bite.

Max nudges the food closer. At first B. B. hesitates,

but he finally begins eating.

47

IN THE RAFTERS

More excited than ever, Clorinda begins shouting.

CLORINDA

Come on, Max. Stuff the fat

slob’s beak! Go! Go! Go!

She cackles hysterically. Soon, she descends

to the garage floor and eggs on Max.

CLORINDA

Don’t stop. More food for

Beefy Bird! More! More!

Clorinda is now wild with hatred, shrieking louder

than ever. Soon, Max is caught up in the madness

and begins barking up a storm. Cat and dog are

scaring the wits out of B. B.

CLORINDA (cont’d)

Give it to him! More! More!

Fat is ugly! Fat is repugnant!

Thin is beautiful! Slim is

sublime!

INT. DAVID’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

David is tossing and turning. Gradually, the unholy

RACKET from the garage penetrates his consciousness.

He suddenly awakens, frightened and confused.

Now the strange SOUNDS are blended with gasps

and groans. David tries to ascertain where they

are coming from. Finally, he brightens.

DAVID

The garage!

He bolts out of bed and frantically hobbles to the door.

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT

Prodded by the demented, wild-eyed Clorinda, Max hovers

over the trembling B. B. and forces him to swallow a

formidable glob of pastry much too large for his beak.

Trapped by the menacing Max, B. B. lies groaning on his

back, bloated, cross-eyed, and totally helpless.

48

Clorinda is dancing wildly, shrieking and streaking

all around the garage hysterically

CLORINDA

Give it to him, Max, Baby!

Stuff the big blimp.

As Clorinda cackles in triumph , David appears at the

top of the stairway. Astonished at the scene he is

witnessing, he hobbles at top speed down the stairs.

DAVID

Max! What’s going on?

Max! Stop it! You’ll kill

B. B., Max!

(spotting Clorinda)

Where’d that cat come from?

Angrily, he pulls Max away from the defenseless bird.

The shamefaced dog shuffles away.

Her scheme gone awry, Clorinda hisses at David and lunges

at him savagely, her sharp claws ready to attack. David

grabs a broom and chases her around the garage. Soon, the

scrambling is too much for the screaming, panic-stricken

cat, and she collapses, gasping and heaving convulsively.

David stands over the cat and is soon joined by Max

and the trembling B. B. All three stare in amazement

as the vicious, quivering Clorinda goes limp.

DAVID

She looks dead, and

I never touched her.

David’s mother appears on the stairway.

MOTHER

What’s going on? What’s all

that racket?

DAVID

It’s this cat, Mom, a real mean one.

His mother approaches Clorinda for a closer look.

DAVID

Don’t get too close, Mom.

She may be playing possum.

49

MOTHER

I don’t think so. she looks

half dead. One of those stray

cats, I’ll bet. And all skin

and bones. She needS a Vet,

the one we take Max to.

We’ll take her there in the

morning. For now, cover her

with some towels, and I’ll

get some milk.

David grabs towels from a hook and covers the stricken

cat. He turns a suspicious eye on B.B. Robin and Max.

DAVID

Something fishy has been

going on here. I just know

it. I’ll find out sooner

or later. All right, Max,

out! And stay away from

B. B., you hear?

As Max responds with a sheepish grin and clambers

up the stairway, David picks up B. B. Robin and places

him in his crate.

DAVID

So you’ve been eating behind

my back, eh? Well, starting

tomorrow, you’re going to work

twice as hard as before.

B. B. Robin is shamefaced.

B. B. ROBIN

I’m sorry I caused you

so much grief, but I

promise to turn over

a brand new leaf.

INT. VETERINARIAN’S OFFICE - DAY

A veterinarian is examining Clorinda as David and his

mother watch.

VETERINARIAN

No cuts, scratches, or bruises

anywhere. Can’t find a thing.

50

DAVID

No one hurt her. She attacked

me actually. Then she just

flopped down, I thought she

was dead.

VETERINARIAN

Well, she’s pretty close to it.

Lucky you brought her in now.

It’s severe malnutrition, that’s

for sure. An alley cat, no doubt.

MOTHER

We don’t know. She doesn’t

look like anyone’s pet.

The Veterinarian moves his hands along Clorinda’s body,

takes a hard look at her, and shakes his head.

VETERINARIAN

Skin and bones. Something strange

about this cat. If I didn’t see

it with my own eyes, I would’t

have believed it. Anorexia Nervosa.

DAVID

What’s that?

VETERINARIAN

Well, in humans its a morbid

fear of gaining weight, and it

usually leads to malnutrition

and excessive weight loss.

If it isn’t treated in time,

death is a distinct possibility.

DAVID

What do you call the opposite,

when someone eats too much.

VETERINARIAN

That all depends. It could

be plain overindulgence or

gluttony. If it’s chronic,

it results in obesity, you

know, being overweight And

that’s not too good, Then

there’s something called

bulimia.

51

DAVID

Bulimia?

VETERINARIAN

It’s an abnormal craving for

food. You eat and eat until

you throw up. And that’s as

bad in its way as anorexia.

MOTHER

Well, anorexia or not,

we can’t take on a cat,

especially a sick one.

We already have Max.

(eyeing David)

Not to mention a fat

bird, a temporary house

guest, I hope.

VETERINARIAN

Well, I can place this cat

in the city animal shelter.

I donate some time once

a week, and I’m sure we

can fatten her up. Maybe

someone will want her as

a pet.

David’s rolling eyes express serious doubt.

MOTHER

Let’s hope so. Well, thank

you. Let’s go, David.

David hobbles toward the door, and his limp catches

the attention of the veterinarian.

VETERINARIAN

I see David is still limping.

He was the last time you

brought Max in for shots.

David’s mother shrugs and sighs.

MOTHER

The doctor can’t seem

to find anything wrong

physically.

52

The veterinarian glances at David again.

VETERINARIAN

Could be psychological.

MOTHER

I agree. But finding a solution

is another matter.

INT. GARAGE - DAY

ON DAVID B. B. ROBIN AND MAX

Dressed like a coach in sweatshirt, baseball cap, and whistle

around his neck, David is lecturing an attentive and very

humble bird and dog.

DAVID

I’m surprised at you two.

You Max, playing sucker to

that awful cat and sneaking

in food to B. B. And you,

B. B., going along with him

and falling off your diet.

Dog and bird turn crimson with shame.

DAVID

I hope the both of you

have learned your lesson,

because from now on, there’ll

be no funny business.

(eyeing B. B.)

B. B., you’re going to

work harder than ever.

Right? You’re going to

stay with your diet and

sweat your weight off

like never before.

B. B. Robin nods in agreement.

B. B. ROBIN

From a horrible fate you

have saved me twice. So I

promise to follow your

excellent advice.

David points to the calendar.

53

DAVID

Spring is around the corner,

and we have to make up for

lost time. We need to get

you in shape for the day

when your folks return to see

a new, improved B. B. Robin.

B. B. sucks in his paunch and stiffens with pride.

DAVID

(turning to Max)

And you, Max, you’re going

to cooperate. Right? You’re

going to make sure B. B.

sticks to the plan. Right?

(eyeing dog and bird sternly)

And the two of you are going

to be pals. Right?

ON MAX AND B. B.

Max and B. B. eye each other. Shamed into cooperation,

Max finally plods over to B. B. and licks him. B. B.

grimaces, then nods in assent.

B. B. ROBIN

If Max is willing to make

amends, I see no reason

we can’t be friends.

ON DAVID

His face spreads into a broad grin.

DAVID

Okay, let’s get started.

EXT. LATE WINTER SCENE - DAY

NARRATOR

The ordeal with the wretched

Clorinda and her dirty tricks

has ended. Now, as winter moves

toward Spring, boy, bird, and

dog are making a fresh start,

And with a greater determination

than ever to succeed.

54

SERIES OF SHOTS

This series of shots shows how determined David, B. B.,

and Max are to succeed. Max no longer sulks in piques

of jealousy. B. B. no longer frets about his skimpy meals.

INT. GARAGE - DAY

1. B. B. strenuously doing push-ups.

2. B. B. skipping rope with seeming enjoyment.

3. B. B. eating his dietary fare and not complaining.

4. David measuring B. B.’s waist, then smiling with

satisfaction.

5. David weighing B. B. and smiling.

6. B. B., noticeably slimmer, checking his appearance

before a mirror.

EXT. BACKYARD - DAY

7. B. B. negotiating an obstacle course of hurdles,

ladders, boulders, etc.

8. B. B. jogging earnestly with Max panting along

and David hobbling in the rear. Suddenly, David

stumbles and falls.

ON WINDOW

9. David’s mother watches and gasps.

ON DAVID

10. David gets up, brushes himself off, and limps

after B. B. and Max.

ON WINDOW

11. David’s mother has a troubled look.

INT. KITCHEN -DAY

12. David’s mother is punching numbers on a telephone.

55

END SERIES OF SHOTS.

INT. PYSCHIATRIST’S OFFICE - DAY

David’s mother is speaking with DR. OWEN.

MOTHER

I appreciate your seeing

me on such short notice.

But I’m at my wit’s end

about David.

DR. OWEN

Yes, your doctor gave me

the particulars. Your son’s

leg, your husband’s death.

I’d like to see the boy.

MOTHER

He doesn’t know I’m here

and probably won’t like

the idea. What do you think

is wrong with his leg?

DR. OWEN

Well, even without seeing

him, his limp may be what

we call a conversion disorder.

MOTHER

Conversion disorder?

DR. OWEN

Well, simply put, the patient,

whether child or adult, converts

an emotional or psychological

problem, a traumatic experience,

into a physical symptom.

MOTHER

Like my husband’s death.

DR. OWEN

Yes. A patient may convert

such an experience into

blindness, deafness, or a

paralyzed leg. It’s also

called hysterical neurosis.

56

MOTHER

Robert’s death shattered

the boy.

DR. OWEN

I‘d like to see him..

INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT

David and his mother are having dinner.

DAVID

B. B. is doing great,

Mom. He’s getting slimmer

day by day. And it won’t

be long before I have him

flying againl.

His mother stares at him with concern.

MOTHER

I saw you fall down

yesterday. Maybe your

bird’s getting better,

but your leg hasn’t

improved any. I’m worried,

David. This can’t go on

much longer.

(nervously)

I -- I went to see a

specialist today. Our

doctor referred him,

and he’d like to--

DAVID

You mean a head-shrinker?

Thanks a lot, Mom! You want

everyone to make fun of me?

MOTHER

Aren’t some of the kids

already doing that? teasing

you about your leg?

DAVID

(angrily)

So what! See if I care!

57

MOTHER

(snapping)

Don’t you want to walk

normally again? Or would

you rather limp and hobble

around for the rest of

your life?

David shoves his chair back and hobbles away in a huff.

MOTHER

David! You come back

here! David!

The frustrated woman begins to sob.

MOTHER

Oh, God. Please help my boy.

(beat)

The way he is helping that bird.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

David’s mother is talking on the telephone.

MOTHER

I tried, Doctor Owen,

but I couldn’t convince

him to see you. I’m sorry.

(listening)

Yes, I understand. It’s a

hard thing for a young boy

to do. If he changes his

mind, I’ll call you.

She hangs up, then stares into space, her eyes heavy

with worry.

EXT. CITY PARK - DAY

The landscape has turned greener and more colorful,

a harbinger of Spring. B. B. Robin is jogging by

the park with David and Max in the rear.

ON B. B. ROBIN

He is slimmer, with only a trace of pudginess.

58

DAVID

(pointing)

There it is, Guys!

B. B. and Max turn to look.

DAVID

That’s the park where

B. B. will take off and

fly again. And he’s almost

ready for that big day.

B. B. stares at the park with doubt in his eyes.

B. B. ROBIN

But what if I just can’t

do it? Then everyone will

say I blew it.

DAVID

We’ve come this far. Trust me.

Max barks his approval.

INT. NEWS ROOM LOCAL NEWSPAPER - DAY

MIKE LIPTON is talking on the telephone.

LIPTON

Are you the boy’s mother?

(listening)

I’m Mike Lipton, a reporter

on the Bulletin. I heard

about your son and that bird.

Is it true?

(listening)

It is. Sounds like a great

story. Mind if I interview

him? And you, too?

(listening)

Yes, after school. Fine.

See you both then.

INT. GARAGE - DAY

Lipton is interviewing David and his mother with

his tape recorder as B. B. Robin and Max look on.

59

LIPTON

You mean to say, David,

this bird was so fat he

couldn’t fly anymore?

DAVID

Or sing, either. So I

put him on a diet

and training program

LIPTON

You’re kidding.

Lipton glances at David’s mother for corroboration.

MOTHER

It’s true.

Lipton studies B. B. Robin.

LIPTON

It looks like your program

has worked. He’s pretty slick

looking. But is he ready to fly?

DAVID

I hope so. We won’t know till

Saturday when I take him to

the park for a tryout.

LIPTON

Sort of like the Wright Brothers,

eh? Has he done any warbling?

DAVID

Not yet.

LIPTON

He seems pretty quiet. Hasn’t

made a sound. Maybe he’s got

laryngitis. But I guess he

understands what you’re doing.

David and B. B. Robin exchange knowing glances.

Then David turns to Lipton with a half smile.

DAVID

We sort of communicate with

each other.

60

Lipton photogaphs David with B. B., then David with

his mother, B. B. and Max. He prepares to leave.

LIPTON

I’ll be there Saturday.

I wouldn’t miss it for

the world. Keep your

fingers crossed.

(to David’s mother)

Thanks for your time and

cooperation.

(to David)

You, too, David. Good luck

to you and your bird.

As David follows Lipton out, the reporter notices his limp.

LIPTON

Your leg? An accident?

DAVID

No.

LIPTON

Soccer injury? Basketball?

DAVID

Nope.

David’s mother listens, then joins the two.

MOTHER

He doesn’t like to talk

about it.

LIPTON

Sure, Well, see you Saturday.

EXT. FRONT YARD -- DAY

As David returns to the garage, his mother speaks

to Lipton quietly.

MOTHER

Please don’t mention his

limp. It would only embarrass

him. People will notice it,

anyway.

61

LIPTON

Sure, you have my word.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSES - DAY

Friday morning and people are picking up their newspapers

on lawns and porches.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

At breakfast with his wife and two children, a man

is reading the newspaper. He points to an article,

then hands the newspaper to his wife.

MAN

I’ve heard of everything,

but this takes the cake.

WIFE

(reading)

It’s about some little

boy and his pet bird,

a robin. It got so fat,

it couldn’t fly anymore.

The two children scoot around and peer over their

mother’s shoulder as she reads.

FIRST CHILD

Whoever heard of a robin

as a pet?

WIFE

The boy is going to try

to get it to fly this

Saturday. In City Park.

She hands the newspaper back to her husband.

He reads more of the story and shakes his head

in disbelief.

MAN

This I got to see.

CHILDREN

(in unison)

Me, too!

62

INT. NEWS ROOM TELEVISION STATION -DAY

SUPERVISOR displays newspaper headline in front

of LINDA GOMEZ, TV reporter, and TED NELSON,

cameraman. It reads:

GROUNDED ROBIN TO TEST WINGS ON SATURDAY

12-YEAR-OLD BOY HOPES

TO GET BIRD BACK INTO SKY

SUPERVISOR

Have you seen this?

Gomez and Nelson study the headline.

GOMEZ

(indifferent)

So?

SUPERVISOR

The boy rescued the bird

during that big snowstorm

last Christmas. It was so

fat it couldn’t fly and

got snowbound. The kid put

the bird on a diet,and he

thinks it can fly again.

Gomez and Nelson respond with bored faces.

NELSON

Is this some joke? One of

those local pranks we get

every so often?

SUPERVISOR

If it’s good enough for

Mike Lipton of the Bulletin,

it’s good enough for us.

GOMEZ

Give us a break. We’ve got

other stories to cover.

NELSON

Yeah, we’re up to our ears.

SUPERVISOR

This one’s hot.

63

SUPERVISOR (cont’d)

It’s more refreshing than

the political nonsense we’ve

been handling, and I want it

covered. You two be at that

park tomorrow.

GOMEZ

Shall we interview the robin,

too?

The Supervisor gives her a cool stare.

INT. SMALL CAFETERIA - DAY

Gomez and Nelson are on a coffee break.

GOMEZ

If an elephant flies,

that’s news. But a bird?

NELSON

If you ask me, this story

is for the birds.

GOMEZ

Spare me the cornball.

INT. BARBERSHOP - DAY

The barber is cutting a man’s hair while others wait

their turn.

BARBER

Did you read about that

kid and the bird?

MAN IN CHAIR

No, what’s it about?

The waiting customers perk up.

BARBER

Well, you’re not going

to believe this, but on

Saturday, this kid is

going to --

64

EXT. WINDOW OF BARBER SHOP - DAY

We can’t hear the rest of the barber’s words. Listening

outside on the ledge of a barbershop window are a couple

of Clorinda’s disreputable friends.

FIRST CAT

Did you hear that?

The gang’s got to know

about this. Let’s go.

The two leap down and hurry away along an alley.

SECOND CAT

Too bad Clorinda is laid

up in that hospital.

FIRST CAT

She’s lucky to be alive.

She was nearly a goner.

SECOND CAT

Maybe we ought to go see her.

The first cat stops and rubs his chin, reflecting.

FIRST CAT

Yeah, a surprise visit.

We’ll give her the bad news

about that miserable bird.

I can’t wait to see see her

face when she hears it.

She’ll explode, as usual.

SECOND CAT

She ain’t going to like it,

that’s for sure.

FIRST CAT

You know Clorinda. She’ll

think of something. Come on,

let’s tell the gang first.

They hurry on.

INT. GARAGE - DAY

David hobbles in with a newspaper and shows it to B. B.

65

DAVID

Look, B. B., your picture

in the paper! I’ll bet

the whole town will come

out to see you fly.

B. B. studies the photo but doesn’t seem impressed.

B. B. ROBIN

I’m too scared and full

of anxiety, to enjoy my

celebrity in local society.

DAVID

Don’t worry. You’ll be

fine tomorrow.

EXT. ANIMAL SHELTER - NIGHT

Several of Clorinda’s cadaverous cronies are sneaking

inside through a window.

INT. ANIMAL SHELTER - NIGHT

In the darkness, the cats begin searching for Clorinda

and bump into each other.

FIRST CAT

Shhhhhhh.

They tiptoe past sleeping animals, but Clorinda is

not among them. Soon, they approach a dark corner

of the room.

SECOND CAT

(whispering)

Look, there she is,

in that cage all by

herself, sleeping.

THIRD CAT

She looks awful bad.

And heavier, too.

FIRST CAT

Geez, don’t tell her that.

She’ll blow sky high

66

ON CLORINDA

A heavier Clorinda is confined in a cage away

from other animals. With trepidation, the other

cats tiptoe over to her.

FIRST CAT

(softly)

Psssst -- Clorinda.

Clorinda awakens with a snarl. As she gradually

recognizes her cronies, she puts on a woeful face.

CLORINDA

I thought you had forgotten

your poor old friend. See,

they got me in solitary.

They think I’m some kind

of menace to the other

inmates. Me -- a menace?

It’s torture in here.

Oh, how I suffer!

SECOND CAT

Gee, you look great, Clorinda.

THIRD CAT

Yeah, never better.

CLORINDA

Great? You imbeciles! Can’t you

see I’m getting fat and ugly.

These do-gooder shmucks in here

are trying to kill me with

their crummy fatty food.

(tearfully)

They’re sabotaging my good

looks. How can I ever face

the world again?

FIRST CAT

Poor Clorinda. How horrible.

CLORINDA

Then those creepy, snotty kids

and their do-gooder parents come

in and want to take me home to

feed me even more of their lousy

calories and cholesterol.

67

Clorinda starts imitating some of the visitors

in a FALSETTO VOICE.

CLORINDA

‘Look, Mommy, the skinny

cat. Don’t they feed the

poor thing?’ ‘Can we take

her home and feed her,

Mommy? Please.’

(exploding in indignation)

Imagine -- me a house pet!

Stupid people. Don’t they

realize fat is ugly, thin

is beautiful, and --

FIRST CAT

-- lean is mean! We know, Clorinda.

CLORINDA

Clorinda nods her approval. Her cronies gather round

in admiration.

SECOND CAT

Same old Clorinda. She doesn’t

ever change.

CLORINDA

And that quack doctor they

got here. He said I got

a thing called anorexia

nervosa. That’s why they’re

feeding me all this high

cholesterol crapola. Anorexia

nervosa! How do you like that?

The other cats look terrified.

THIRD CAT

Is it catching?

Corinda suddenly eyes her cronies with suspicion.

CLORINDA

Okay, out with it. You didn’t

come to visit your sick friend

and protector on a mission of

mercy. You’ve got something in

mind. Spill it!

68

FIRST CAT

It’s that bird, you know,

the fatso robin, Well, he

ain’t so fat anymore. He’s

back in shape and going to

fly again. Well, he’s going

to try, anyway.

Clorinda bursts into laughter.

CLORINDA

Fly again? El Blimpo?

Don’t make me laugh.

You’re putting me on.

The first cat whips out a newspaper and puts it under

Clorinda’s nose.

SECOND CAT

It’s true. The bird ain’t

fat anymore. Look, it’s in

the newspaper. The whole

town’s talking about it.

Clorinda begins reading the headline.

ON NEWSPAPER HEADLINE AND PHOTO

GROUNDED ROBIN TO TEST WINGS ON SATURDAY

12-YEAR-OLD BOY HOPES

TO GET BIRD BACK INTO SKY

Clorinda is seething with rage.

CLORINDA

First, that rotten kid

nearly kills me. Now he’s

going to humiliate me.

(exploding)

I want revenge! But I’m

stuck in this miserable

rathole. You guys will

have to be my arms and

legs. I’ll be the brains,

as usual.

FIRST CAT

Maybe we could fatten up

the bird again

69

CLORINDA

Too late. The kid won’t

let you near him now.

SECOND CAT

What do we do, then?

Clorinda ponders, grimacing with each passing thought.

Finally, she brightens.

CLORINDA

Terrorize the feathered fathead!

Break down his morale! Frighten

him to death! Scare the living

daylights out of him.

FIRST CAT

How do we do that?

CLORINDA

Heckle him! Harass him! Hiss him!

Hector him! Bully him! Badger Him!

Needle him! Ruffle him! Pester him!

Persecute him! Don’t let the bugger

get off the ground.

THIRD CAT

What about the dog you had eating

out of your hand, remember?

CLORINDA

Stay away from that dumb mutt.

We can’t trust him anymore.

Clorinda sighs and signals her cronies to move closer.

CLORINDA (cont’d)

Do this, my lovelies, for your

old pal. For your loyal protector.

For old time’s sake.

(exploding again)

Heckle him! Harass him! Hector him!

That’s the ticket!

Clorinda laughs hysterically until she is so weak, she

slumps into the arms of her cronies and speaks in a whisper.

CLORINDA

Avenge me. Avenge me.

70

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT - CLOSE ON B. B. ROBIN

He is sleeping and moaning through a bad dream.

EXT. CITY PARK - DAY - DREAM SEQUENCE

B. B. runs, flaps his wings, tries to fly, but rams

into a tree.

He tries again, but this time Clorinda pops out from

behind the tree and chases him across the park.

Clorinda is about to pounce on B. B. As catastrophe

seems imminent, we hear David’s voice, and B. B.

feels himself being shaken.

INT. GARAGE - DAY

David is trying to rouse B. B. Robin.

DAVID

Wake up, sleepyhead! Today’s

the big day. Up and at ‘em!

B. B. wakes up, disoriented.

DAVID (cont’d)

This is it! The day you earn

your wings. Time to get going.

B. B. is bleary-eyed and full of doubt and fear.

EXT. CITY PARK - DAY

A cloudless Saturday with a hint of Spring in the air.

Spectators begin arriving, townspeople, as well as

David’s neighbors, friends, and classmates.

ON TV VAN

Linda Gomez and her cameraman, Ted Nelson, are by

the van preparing to cover the event.

ON MIKE LIPTON AMONG SPECTATORS

Mike Lipton is interviewing some of the spectators.

71

ON CLORINDA’S CRONIES

They begin arriving and making a noisy, snarling entrance.

ON CAR ARRIVING

David’s mother arrives in her car. David, carrying

B. B. and Max step out. Friends, neighbors, and others

rush over to greet the arrivals and offer best wishes.

ON SPECTATORS

Spectators gooseneck and murmer as David, B. B., and Max

head for an open space on the park green.

ON B. B. ROBIN

He is slimmer and sleeker. Gone is the bulk and the beef.

Gone is the wobble.

ON CLORINDA’S CRONIES

They snicker and jeer at David.

FIRST CAT

There’s that rotten kid who put

poor Clorinda in the hospital.

All the cats hiss David.

SECOND CAT

Yeah, that’s the thanks

Clorinda gets for her kindness

in feeding the bird that lousy

kid was starving to death.

More hisses aimed at David. A third cat screams at

B. B. Robin

THIRD CAT

You ain’t never gonna fly

no more! You’re gonna fall

flat on your face!

The cats keep hissing and heckling.

ON B. B. ROBIN

He glances at the cats with a forlorn look and turns to David.

72

B. B. ROBIN

Those loudmouthed cats may

just be right. Maybe we had

better cancel this flight.

DAVID

We’ll show them, B. B.

Won’t we Max?

Max nods and dances around. B. B. is doubtful.

David eyes Clorinda’s cronies.

DAVID

Max, keep an eye out for

anyone who tries to interfere

with B. B. Those cats out

there, for instance.

David points to the cats. Max nods and shoots a menacing

look at the cats. David turns to B. B.

DAVID

Okay, let’s limber up.

B. B. does a few stretches and push-ups, then jogs in

small circles.

ON LINDA GOMEZ AND TED NELSON BY THE TV VAN

They are making final adjustments. After a test run,

Gomez begins speaking to the camera.

GOMEZ (on camera)

Good morning everyone.

Linda Gomez reporting live

from beautiful City Park.

We are also videotaping

this historic and unusual

event for later viewing.

INT. BEAUTY SHOP -DAY

As Gomez continues, we pick up her image and voice

on a TV set in a busy beauty shop.

GOMEZ (on TV screen)

Call it Saturday in the Park

with B. B. Robin.

73

LINDA GOMEZ (cont’d)

It’s the bird who, grounded

by obesity, had lost his ancestral

ability to fly and sing. And who

nearly froze to death in the snow

until twelve-year-old David came

to the rescue and put him on a diet

and a rigorous training program.

Has all that dieting and all that

exercise paid off? Will they help

this robin get back into the sky?

Today, we’re going to find out

Over Gomez’s commentary, several customers begin jabbering.

FIRST WOMAN

Did you ever hear of anything

like this? It’s unbelievable.

SECOND WOMAN

It’s bizarre.

THIRD WOMAN

My nephew goes to the same

school as that boy with the bird.

HAIRDRESSER

Maybe it’s some kind of

stunt. You know, just to

entertain the crowd.

INT. BARBER SHOP - DAY

It is the same barber shop we saw earlier. All eyes

are on the TV screen.

GOMEZ (on TV screen)

The big question today. Will

the new, improved slimmer

robin get his wings back?

FIRST MAN

Now I’ve seen and heard everything!

GOMEZ (on TV screen)

Will the bird be able to fly

again with the help of his

twelve-year-old mentor and benefactor?

74

SECOND MAN

You’ve got to hand it

to that kid. He sure

has a lot of patience.

GOMEZ (on TV screen)

We’ll know the answer before

the morning is over.

EXT. CITY PARK - DAY - ON LINDA GOMEZ

She glances at David and B. B. Robin.

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN - GOMEZ POV

David and B. B. are almost ready to give it the big try.

INT. ANIMAL SHELTER -DAY

Several employees and visitors are gathered in front

of a TV set watching the event. Animals nearby are

also watching.

ON CLORINDA

From her corner cage, the morose Clorinda also watches.

GOMEZ (on TV screen)

It looks like boy and bird

are almost ready for takeoff.

(glancing at spectators)

And the crowd here is getting

quieter. You can almost feel

the tension.

ON CLORINDA

She is sneering and hissing.

EXT. PARK - DAY - ON LINDA GOMEZ

GOMEZ (on camera)

I don’t know about you

viewers, but my stomach

is fluttering with big

butterflies.

75

ON A GROUP OF SPECTATORS

FIRST MAN

If I were a betting man,

I’d say the bird’s going

to make it.

A man in front turns around.

SECOND MAN

Well I am a betting man,

and I say the bird won’t

get off the ground.

FIRST MAN

Why‘s that?

SECOND MAN

Because he hasn’t flown in

months. He’s rusty, and he

looks pretty scared to me.

The first man studies B. B. and David, then smiles.

FIRST MAN

I’m not a betting man, but I’ll

wager ten dollars the bird flies.

SECOND MAN

You’re on. It’ll be an easy

sawbuck in my pocket.

ON CLORINDA’S CRONIES

They are sitting close to the two men

FIRST CAT

Did you hear that? One of

those shlemiels is a real

loser. Imagine. Betting on

the bird.

The cronies all cackle uproariously. Then they begin

hissing and heckling B. B. Robin.

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

While Max jumps around in anticipation, David gives

B. B. a pep talk.

76

DAVID

Don’t let that heckling

bother you. Just concentrate

on flying. it’s the moment

we’ve been waiting for. No

turning back. Remember what

I told you. Run as fast as

you can, then start spreading

your wings.

Max sticks his nose in.

DAVID

Max! Move away. B. B. needs

lots of room.

B. B. ROBIN

What I really need to turn

the trick, is a big, big

miracle pretty darn quick!

DAVID

Okay, time for takeoff.

Ready, get set, GO!

As spectators cheer and Clorinda’s cronies jeer,

B. B. starts streaking along the grass.

ON LINDA GOMEZ

GOMEZ (on camera)

There he goes! The moment

of truth has arrived.

ON B. B. ROBIN

B. B. runs as fast as he can. He flaps his wings,

and when he leaps a few inches off the ground,

it appears he is on the verge of taking off.

ON DAVID

DAVID

Come on, B. B, I know

you can do it!

ON SPECTATORS

Thinking B. B. is airborne, spectators gasp.

77

ON B.B. ROBIN

But B. B. begins tripping, slipping, skipping, skidding,

and doing almost everything but take off.

ON CORINDA’S CRONIES

They are guffawing raucously.

FIRST CAT

What a fraud! I want my

money back!

SECOND CAT

Me, too!

THIRD CAT

Booooo!

The other cats join in jeering B. B.

ON B. B. ROBIN AND DAVID

B. B. stops to catch his breath, and David limps toward him.

GOMEZ (on camera)

Here’s a surprise, the young boy

is limping. I didn’t notice it

until he started running out to

his bird. I’ll try to find out more.

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

Still hobbling, David arrives by B. B. Robin’s side.

B. B. ROBIN

I knew I should have stayed

in bed and quit while I was

way ahead.

I remember when flying was

a piece of cake, but now

it’s just one big mistake.

DAVID

It’s only your first try.

Cheer up. Remember, if at

first you don’t succeed,

try, try --

78

B. B. ROBIN

(interrupting)

If at first you don’t

succeed, maybe it’s

better not to proceed.

ON GOMEZ AND DAVID’S MOTHER

Gomez is talking brIefly with David’s mother, but not

on camera. We can’t hear their conversation.

ON MIKE LIPTON

He is observing Gomez and David’s mother.

ON GOMEZ AND DAVID’S MOTHER

Gomez leaves David’s mother, and as she heads back

to the TV van, she is joined by Mike Lipton.

LIPTON

It’s about the kid’s leg,

isn’t it?

GOMEZ

You knew? It wasn’t in

your story.

LIPTON

His mother asked me to leave

it out.

GOMEZ

It’s out in the open,

now. But she didn’t

want to talk about it.

LIPTON

I know. It’s been a pretty

big load for her these past

months with her husband

dying and all that.

(walking away)

I’ll see you on the

six-o’clock news.

GOMEZ

And the eleven o’clock news,

too, don’t forget..

79

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

DAVID

We’re not giving up. Okay,

let’s give it another try

One, two, three, GO!

Again, B. B. races down the field followed by David

and Max. Again, he trips and falls.

ON CLORINDA’S CRONIES

And again, Clorinda’s friends explode into hysterical laughter.

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

David hobbles over to a crestfallen B. B. Robin.

B. B. ROBIN

It’s really no use, I forgot

how to fly. I give up, I’ve had

it, I’m ready to die.

DAVID

You can’t quit now. I’m sure

you can do it.

ON CLORINDA’S CRONIES

Their jeering is louder than ever.

FIRST CAT

Hey, Robin, you want to fly?

Hire a helicopter.

SECOND CAT

You’re all washed up.

Time to go back to

Palookaville.

THIRD CAT

Ever think of joining

the circus? As a clown?

The cats roar with laughter.

ON MAX

He snarls in the direction of the cats.

80

ON DAVID AND ROBIN

DAVID

Don’t let those jokers

scare you. Show them what

you’re made of. Give it

another try.

For the third time, B. B. streaks down the field. Running

to keep pace with B. B., David stumbles and falls.

ON SPECTATORS

They gasp.

ON CLORINDA’S CRONIES

They jeer louder than ever.

ON DAVID’S MOTHER

She races across he field and joins David.

MOTHER

You’re over-exerting yourself,

David, and I want you to stop.

Now! I mean it! That bird isn’t

going to fly. Not today, maybe

never. You’ve done all you

can, and I’m proud of you,

but enough is enough!

Angry and embarrassed, David gets up and pushes her away.

DAVID

I can’t stop now, Mom.

If I do, B. B. will

probably never fly again.

David is puffing and nearly exhausted. His mother tries

to contain her own anger.

MOTHER

All right. I’ll give you

one more chance. If I see

you can’t continue, I’ll

take you right home. And

you’ll see Doctor Owen.

Understand?

81

She stalks away and a hush comes over the crowd.

TV cameraman Ted Nelson follows her move with his

camera. Then he returns to Linda Gomez, and they

resume her commentary.

GOMEZ (on camera)

Moments ago, I spoke to

the boy’s mother, and yes,

he is lame. But that’s all

she would say at present.

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

There is determination in David’s eyes as he gazes

at B. B. He scoops him up, and places him in his palm.

DAVID

This time, my Friend, you’re

going to fly right up to

the sky, because a bird in my

hand is worth ten who won’t try.

B. B. Robin and Max exchange surprised looks. David himself

looks surprised, and he bends close to B. B. in his hand.

DAVID

Hey, B. B. you’ve got me

speaking in rhyme, too!

CLOSE ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

Their faces are almost touching. In David’s hand, B. B.

now seems emboldened. He gives David a peck on the cheek.

B. B. ROBIN

Okay, I’m ready for takeoff,

ready to try it, to fly it,

to sky it, to do or to die it!

David hops and hobbles as fast as his lame leg will

allow. Gradually, he builds up more speed while holding

B. B. high his hand, as though the bird were a kite

that had to be coaxed into the sky.

ON SPECTATORS

They are quieter than ever as they wait breathlessly

to see what will happen next.

82

ON CLORINDA’S CRONIES

Over the hush of other spectators, Clorinda’s friends

hiss and hoot and jeer.

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

With B. B. bouncing in his hand, David keeps circling

the field resolutely. But nothing happens.

ON CLORINDA’S CRONIES

They continue their sneering and sniggering.

FIRST CAT

You’re a phony, B. B. Robin!

SECOND CAT

Yeah, a phony baloney!

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

Over and over and over, David zig-zags, criss-crosses,

and circles the field. And in his hand B. B. flips

and flops. It looks as if this could go on forever.

Suddenly, it happens. B. B. Robin begins lifting off

from David’s hand, his wings flapping unsteadily.

But there is no doubt about it. He is taking off.

Soon he is soaring into the sky.

ON SPECTATORS

They begin cheering wildly.

ON GOMEZ

GOMEZ (on camera)

Ladies and gentlemen, that

question I asked earlier

has been answered. After

months on the ground, the

robin that was too fat to

fly anywhere is now in full

flight. And what a beautiful

sight it is. Truly a miraculous

flight. See the miracle for

yourself.

83

ON CAMERAMAN TED NELSON

He turns his camera, tilts it up and begins photogaphing

B. B. in flight.

ON B. B. ROBIN IN FLIGHT

He is soaring and soaring.

INT. ANIMAL SHELTER - DAY

People watching the event on TV are cheering and clapping.

ON CLORINDA

She is groaning, gnashing her teeth, and putting

one paw over her eyes and the other over her ears

to block out the unwelcome sights and sounds.

Suddenly, she screams..

CLORINDA

It’s an outrageous fake!

A lie! A hoax! Foul play!

Flim-flam! Skulduggery!

ON EMPLOYEES WATCHING TV

One of the men glances in the direction of Clorinda’s

cage. He taps the shoulder of another man.

MAN

Go quiet that cat, the ornery

one in the cage over there.

And be careful. She’s mighty

quick with her claws.

The other man heads for the snarling Clorinda.

ON CLORINDA

She screams bloody murder as the man approaches.

EXT. CITY PARK - DAY - ON B. B. ROBIN IN SKY

Gaining more and more confidence, B. B. Robin sails

above the cheering crowd, and swoops above the heads

of Clorinda’s cronies.

84

CLORINDA’S CRONIES - B. B. ROBIN’S POV

Like a dive bomber, B. B. zooms close to the cats’s

heads, and zips back into the sky.

ON FIRST CAT

She scowls, pats her head, wipes something off, and examines

her paw with a look of disgust. She searches the sky, spots

B. B., shakes her paw at him ,and shoots a murderous look.

ON THE OTHER CATS

All are wiping their heads and shaking paws at B. B. Robin.

ON B. B. ROBIN

As he swoops down again, the cats cower and cover their

heads with their paws. B. B. laughs, and with the corner

of one wing, thumbs his beak at them.

ON DAVID - B. B. ROBIN’S POV

David is grinning from ear to ear.

DAVID

Right on target, B. B.

Max scoots over to the cats and laughs. They hiss at him,

but his angry growl scares them into sneering silence.

ON B. B. ROBIN IN THE SKY

He begins performing a variety of acrobatics, zipping,

zooming, looping, flipping, spinning, and gliding over

cheering spectators.

ON SPECTATORS CHEERING

ON TWO BETTING MEN

The man who had bet B. B. Robin wouldn’t fly turns

to the man behind him and hands him a ten-dollar bill.

LOSER

(laughing)

Here’s your money. For a guy

who’s not a betting man,

it’s your lucky day.

85

LOSER (cont’d)

To tell the truth, it was

worth a sawbuck just to see

that bird fly again.

ON DAVID

He watches B. B.’s stunts, laughs, and calls out to B. B.

DAVID

Now you’re showing off.

David’s mother joins him and gives him a big hug.

MOTHER

It’s a miracle, son.

Forgive me for not

sharing your faith

in that bird. I’m so

proud of you.

ON B. B. ROBIN

He dips and dives over David’s head as spectators

cheer again. Soon, he is hovering by David’s ear.

CLOSE ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

B. B. Robin’s beak is almost in David’s ear. David’s

eyes widen in delight, and he cocks his ear and listens.

B. B. is warbling up a storm.

Max barks happily, and David’s mother laughs.

DAVID

He’s singing, Mom! B. B. is

singing again!

B. B. Robin is WARBLING loudly, lustily, and proudly.

MOTHER

It’s another miracle, son.

David hugs his mother.

DAVID

Oh, Mom, this is the happiest

day of my life. If only Dad

could be here.

86

His mother embraces him warmly.

ON B. B. ROBIN

B. B. sails into the sky as David, his mother,

and Max watch.

MOTHER

He’ll be leaving us,

son. That’s in the

nature of things.

David is suddenly melancholy.

DAVID

And I’ll be lonely and just

as lame as ever.

Sensing the boy’s gloom, Max snuggles next to him

with a consoling whimper.

ON B. B. ROBIN

He is performing more aerial gymnastics.

ON DAVID

Watching B. B. perform lifts David’s spirits. As B. B.

swoops over his head, David begins hopping joyfully.

B. B. Robin again flits close to David’s ear.

B. B. ROBIN

Take some advice from a former

Blimp. If I can fly, you can

walk without a limp.

DAVID

It’s no use. Getting rid

of a limp is not like losing

extra pounds. They’re two

different things. So forget it.

B. B. ROBIN

You’ll just have to try and

try and try. Just look at me,

I’m right back in the sky.

In a reversal of roles, B. B. Robin begins to coax,

cajole, goad, and exhort David.

87

B. B. ROBIN

Of what I’ve done, you’ve seen

a sample, Now it’s your turn

to follow my example.

With his beak, B. B. tugs on David’s collar, Willy-nilly,

David hobbles snd stumbles along in the direction B. B.

is pulling him. David’s mother looks on with alarm

and the spectators with astonishment.

FIRST SPECTATOR

(to his neighbor)

Is that bird attacking the boy?

Hell, the kid’s got a bad leg.

SECOND SPECTATOR

Hard to say. Kind of unusual,

though, don’t you think?

FIRST SPECTATOR

Yeah, like that Hitchcock movie

about the birds attacking people.

ON CLORINDA’S CRONIES

They are as astonished by the sight as everyone else.

FIRST CAT

Looks like the bird is turning

on that rotten kid.

(guffawing loudly)

I wouldn’t miss this for

anything.

SECOND CAT

Shhh. Not so loud. You want that

lousy bird to come back and unload

more of his stink bombs on us?

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

B. B. finally lets go of David’s collar and flies slightly

above him. David keeps hobbling, stumbling, and struggling

forward. Then B. B. begins pecking and prodding him.

B. B. ROBIN

Just look at what I have

achieved, because it was

you, my Friend, who I believed.

88

B. B. continues to peck and prod relentlessly

as David stumbles, falls, rises, and falls again.

ON DAVID’S MOTHER

David’s mother screams after his last tumble,

and races toward him.

ON GOMEZ

GOMEZ (on camera)

In a day of miracles, again

something totally unexpected

is happening here. The robin

appears to be attacking the boy

who helped him. But you’ll

have to see for yourself.

ON CAMERAMAN NELSON

He turns his camera and zooms in on David and B. B. Robin.

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

B. B. is still prodding and pecking David.

GOMEZ (V. O.)

The robin continues to pull

and peck the helpless boy,

who, as I reported earlier,

is disabled with a lame leg.

It’s an unusual turn of events,

possibly fraught with danger.

I’m sure that’s why the boy’s

mother has run out to him.

ON DAVID, HIS MOTHER, AND B. B. ROBIN

She reaches David and races along with him trying

to pull him away from B. B. Robin

DAVID’S MOTHER

Make him stop, David! He’ll

hurt you. What’s the matter

with him, anyway?

But B. B. Robin keeps prodding away. Gradually, after

all the slips and falls, the spills and tumbles, David’s

bad leg begins to move more smoothly, more rhythmically,

89

B. B. finally lets go and hovers over David‘s head.

Soon, David’s legs are moving in perfect coordination.

Gone is the jerkiness, the hitch and hobble that had

become habitual for months.

ON DAVID

He is walking in a delirious daze as Max leaps up and down.

DAVID

My limp is gone! I can walk again!

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

As David regains the normal use of his bad leg,

B. B. performs a few happy arabesques above him.

ON DAVID’S MOTHER

She gazes at David in wonder, then at B. B. almost

with disbelief. Soon she begins sobbing.

MOTHER

Another miracle. My prayers

have been answered.

ON B. B. ROBIN

He swoops close to David.

B. B. ROBIN

I knew it! I knew it!

I knew you could do it!

B. B. begins warbling triumphantly.

ON SPECTATORS

They fill the park with loud cheers.

ON CLORINDA’S CRONIES

FIRST CAT

This show is rigged!

SECOND CAT

Boooo! The bird’s a ringer.

Throw the bum out!

90

ON DAVID AND MAX

Hearing the cats’ heckling, David signals to Max.

DAVID

Max, we’ve had just about

enough of those mangy cats.

They don’t seem to learn,

so it’s time we taught them

a lesson. Go get ‘em!

ON MAX AND CATS

Max is Gung Ho for the assignment. He makes a beeline

for the cats, and is soon scattering them screaming

in all directions as spectators cheer.

ON THE SKY

B. B. continues to perform aerial stunts.

ON GOMEZ

GOMEZ (on camera)

A grounded bird flies again.

And sings again. And a lame boy

finally walks again. What a

miracle morning this has been.

ON DAVID, HIS MOTHER, B. B. ROBIN, AND MAX

B. B. Robin alights on the shoulder of David’s mother.

He gives her a peck on the cheek, and she returns the

compliment. Then he pecks Max, and the dog licks him back

Now B. B. perches on David’s shoulder.

B. B. ROBIN

Since your walk is so good,

let’s have more fun. Let’s

see if you can also run.

B. B. zooms ahead, and urges David to follow. David accepts

the challenge and begins running, slowly and tentatively at

first, then faster and faster as though he had never been lame.

ON DAVID’S MOTHER

She watches with tears of joy streaming down her cheeks.

91

MOTHER

Thank you, B. B. Robin.

You’re a rare bird, indeed.

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

David does much more than respond to B. B.’s challenge

to run. As B. B. performs his acrobatics above, David

engages in some creative turns of his own.

He leaps over park benches, executes a few cartwheels,

and leapfrogs over Max, who is dizzy trying to match

the antics of both boy and bird.

CLOSE ON JACK IN THE CROWD

As spectators go wild, caught up in the excitement

is Jack, the wise-guy student who earlier in the school

playground had teased David about his lameness.

JACK

Way to go, kid! You sure

got guts.

ON THE DISTANT HORIZON

While the boy and bird ballet continues, some small

specks appear on the horizon.

ON B. B. ROBIN

He suddenly perks up, gazes toward the horizon,

and starts flapping his wings deliriously.

ON THE NEAR DISTANT SKY

The specks in the sky are now a flock of robins,

among them B. B.’s parents and friends returning

from their winter sojourn down South.

ON DAVID AND B. B.

B. B. swoops down and perches on David’s shoulder. So much

joy in one day is almost too much for the young robin.

B. B. ROBIN

Look! My parents and friends

in the sky. I can hardly wait

for them to see me fly.

92

B. B. ROBIN (cont’d)

And to hear me sing a beautiful

tune, and to see I’m no longer

a big balloon.

CLOSE ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

Boy and bird gaze at each other, probing the love

and understanding they discern in each other’s eyes.

B. B.flaps his wings, then kisses David’s cheek.

B. B. ROBIN

I’ll never, ever forget you,

Friend, but I’ll be back,

this isn’t the end.

So you can look forward to

some great hobnobbin’ with

your old student, B. B. Robin.

ON THE SKY

The flock of robins is getting closer.

ON DAVID AND B. B. ROBIN

Anxiously, B. B. glances up in the direction of

the approaching robins

B. B. ROBIN

Now I must take my leave for

a spell, until we meet again,

it’s so long and farewell.

B. B. prepares to take off. David begins speaking in verse.

DAVID

Remember, when it comes to food,

and you’re not wise, there’s

a tendency to grow in size.

So, if it looks fattening, don’t

even try it, or else you’ll be

back on some miserable diet.

B. B. ROBIN

To guarantee my self-preservation,

I truly plan to resist temptation,

93

B. B. ROBIN (cont’d)

Now that I’ve won the battle

of the bulge, I promise never

to over-indulge.

Thanks to your wonderful

assistance, I have learned

the importance of patience

and persistence.

DAVID

I can walk again, thanks

to your big assist, Now

I don’t have to see that

psychiatrist.

B. B. ROBIN

It was you who pulled me out

of the snow, so what I did

for you was quid pro quo.

Thanks to you, I no longer

wobble, And thanks to me,

you no longer hobble.

DAVID

Before you fly away, here’s

a final word. From now on,

the initials B. B. will mean

Beautiful Bird.

Max barks his approval.

B. B. ROBIN

When I come back, we’ll

have great times, when

the two of us will exchange

many more rhymes.

B. B. gives David’s cheek a final peck, flaps his

wings, and zooms into the sky. Soon, he is soaring

toward the oncoming flock of robins.

CLOSE ON B. B.’S PARENTS IN THE SKY

MOTHER ROBIN

Look! Our son! I’ve missed

him so much! And he’s flying

again. Oh, how wonderful.

94

FATHER ROBIN

The boy has survived,

and that proves he has

courage and stamina. He

looks much slimmer, too.

Let’s have a closer look.

They peel off from the flock and zoom toward their son.

CLOSE ON B. B. ROBIN

As his parents approach, B. B. can barely contain his joy.

ON THE SKY

Another miracle is taking place in the sky, the joyous

reunion of family and friends with one whose survival

had seemed questionable at best when they flew South

months before.

ON B. B. ROBIN AND PARENTS

They are reunited with delirious flapping and warbling.

As other robins look on with equal joy, B. B. Robin

warbles to beat the band.

In the midst of his joy, B. B. Robin again glances

down and waves to David and Max.

ON DAVID AND MAX

David looks up and waves his arms vigorously as Max

leaps all over the place.

ON B. B. ROBIN IN THE SKY

He dives toward David and Max, executes a few loops,

flaps his wings for one final goodbye, then zooms back

into he sky to rejoin his parents.

ON DAVID AND MAX -- BIRD’S-EYE VIEW

While B. B. Robin and his parents are frolicking above,

David and Max are ecstatically romping and rollicking

over the landscape.

Soon, David’s mother gets into the spirit of things

and joins in all the high jinks.

95

NARRATOR (V. O.)

Like B. B. Robin and his

family celebrating and

rejoicing in the sky on

this miraculous day, it is

obvious that on the ground,

boy, mother,and dog are

flying pretty high, too.

ON DAVID, HIS MOTHER, AND MAX

The three are having a whale of a time as they continue

their romping and rollicking.

FADE OUT

THE END

I